Language functional neuro-imaging changes following focal left thalamic infarction

The involvement of the left thalamus in language function has been largely demonstrated through the effects of thalamic lesion and/or stimulation upon language. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying thalamic a phasias remain a matter of debate. We report here on changes in the pattern of brain activity in auditory word processing, verb generation and visual lexical decision in a patient who sustained left thalamic infarct following the surgery of intractable mesio-temporal epilepsy with left hippocampal s clerosis. To some extent, our findings exemplify the way the left thalamus brings on line the cortical networks involved in language processing, sugge sted in the term 'selective engagement'. NeuroReport 11:2907-2912 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.